SENDco contact details:

Mrs Gurney, our school SENDCo, is available to discuss any matters regarding Special Educational Needs or concerns you may have with your child's learning.  Please contact her at the following email address:

igurney@st-josephs.hereford.sch.uk 

Alternatively please feel free to make an appointment via the school office.

What  kinds of special educational needs are provided for at St Joseph's RC Primary School?

At St Joseph's RC Primary, we embrace the fact that every child is different, and, therefore, the educational needs of every child is different; this is certainly the case for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Children will be provided with an appropriately paced and differentiated curriculum.

St Joseph's is proud to provide inclusive education for children who may have:

• Communication and interaction needs
• Cognition and interaction needs
• Behavioural, social and emotional needs
• Physical and / or  sensory needs

How do we identify children with SEND and their needs?

At St Joseph's, children are identified as having SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) through a variety of ways, usually a combination, which may include some of the following:

• Liaison with previous school or pre-school setting
• Child performing below ‘age expected’ levels or equivalent at termly progress meetings.
• Concerns raised by a parent
• Concerns raised by a teacher: for example, if behaviour or self-esteem is affecting performance
• Liaison with external agencies e.g. for a physical/ sensory issue, speech and language
• Children with an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) already have their needs clearly identified. Their placement at our school is a decision that is made by the Local Authority. 

What is the provision for children with SEND at St Joseph's RC Primary School and how is it evaluated?

Our school is an inclusive setting where everyone is treated with dignity, with respect and is of equal worth. All staff have a responsibility to meet the needs of all the children with SEND at St Joseph's.

Our vision is committed to the provision of an outstanding educational experience for each and every pupil. We are positive in the development of partnership between home and school and believe excellent partnership has a direct impact on pupil learning.

We believe the school is central to the community it serves and we are keen to foster good relations and involvement in community projects. At St Joseph's we aim to help children develop responsible attitudes towards their learning, fellow pupils and others in an ordered and caring environment. 

Our key purpose is the construction, delivery and constant improvement of quality learning experiences appropriate to the needs of all our pupils/students.

To achieve our vision we aim:

• To provide a stimulating and creative learning environment where SEND pupils are happy, safe and secure
• To enable all pupils to enjoy learning and achieve to the best of their ability through a broad curriculum, which provides challenge, meets his or her needs and takes account of the child’s previous experience.
• To ensure all pupils have fairness of opportunity regardless of gender, race or abilities.
• To enable pupils to develop responsible attitudes towards their learning, fellow pupils and others in an ordered and caring environment where pupils develop responsibility for their learning, behaviour and engagement in a healthy lifestyle
• For staff to have the opportunity to engage in Continuous Professional Development to ensure their practice is always up to date and of the highest quality
• To engage and communicate with parents and carers in a positive way to ensure effective partnership that supports every child
• For governors to take an active role in the life of the school and support the work it does for the benefit of all pupils

At St Joseph's RC Primary we use the graduated approach to SEND in accordance with the SEN Code of Practice 2014   - using the assess, plan, do, review cycle:

Assess

The class teacher and SENDCO take into account teacher assessments, knowledge of the pupil, previous progress and attainment and the views and experience of parents or carers.

Plan

Where it is decided to provide a pupil with SEND support parents are notified. In consultation, the teacher, SENDCO, parents and pupil will decide on the interventions and support to be put in place. A review date will be set.

The support and intervention/s given will be based on reliable evidence of effectiveness and will be implemented by staff with suitable skills and knowledge. Where appropriate, parental involvement to reinforce or consolidate learning at home will be encouraged.

All staff who work with the pupil will be informed of needs, support, teaching strategies and expected outcomes.

Do

The class teacher remains responsible for working with SEND children on a daily basis.  Where any interventions take place out of the classroom, the teacher will still retain responsibility. Teaching Assistants or specialist staff will work closely with the teacher and SENDCO to assess the effective implementation of support. 

All teachers and teaching assistants engage in regular training to improve teaching and learning for pupils with a range of needs. This is then applied in the classroom setting and reviewed to see how different groups are progressing and any changes that need to be implemented are put in place.

Review

The effectiveness of support and interventions on a pupil’s progress will be reviewed at least termly.  Pupils and parent feedback will be sought alongside that of teaching staff to evaluate the impact on progress and development. The outcome of these consultations will determine any changes that will be made.

Where a pupil has an EHCP the Local Authority will review the plan at the Annual Review.

All children are taught by their teacher. Classwork is pitched at an appropriate level so that all children are able to access it according to their specific needs and ability. We aim to provide additional support to enable the child to reach their challenging targets and develop ways of working independently.

How will St Joseph's Primary School include all SEND children in activities outside the classroom, including school trips?

All children are included in all parts of the school curriculum and we aim for all children to be included on school trips. We will provide the necessary support to ensure that this is successful and may discuss this in advance with parents/carers. It might be appropriate for a parent/carer to accompany a child on a school trip, depending upon the child’s individual needs.

A risk assessment is carried out prior to any off site activity to ensure everyone’s health and safety will not be compromised.

A variety of after school clubs are provided. We aim for these to be as inclusive as possible. 

How will equipment and facilities be provided to support SEND children at St Joseph's RC Primary?

• Our school has an Accessibility Plan
• All areas of the school are accessible by wheelchair. A ramp is provided to avoid stepped areas
• An accessible toilet facility is available
• Adaptations will be made to accommodate children with sensory needs
• In our curriculum we make adaptations using resources that allow all children to access learning independently

If you have specific access queries or concerns please speak with us. 
 
All parents and families are welcome to visit the school prior to their child or young person attending the school.

How do we listen to SEND children’s views?

SEND children are encouraged to express their views in all aspects of their daily school life

They are fully included in the plan, do and review cycle.

The assessment and annual review process of statements of SEND and EHC Plans includes the choices and views of each child.

The School Council includes SEND pupils to contribute and decide on aspects of school life relating to their needs.

What are the arrangements for assessing and reviewing children and young people’s progress towards outcomes, including the opportunities available to work with parents and young people as part of this assessment and review?

• The SENDCo will check that your child is making good progress within any individual work and in any group that they take part in.
• Your child’s progress is continually monitored by his/her class teacher.
• His/her progress is reviewed formally every term in reading, writing and numeracy.

• Your child will be prepared for National tests and arrangements made as applicable.

What support do we give to children to improve their emotional and social development?

• Staff 'check in' with every child whilst taking the register. The Teacher will make eye contact with the child and a 'thumbs up or down' will alert the Teacher to an issue which will be dealt with through the day. 'Check in happens at first registration and after lunch.
• Soft start (quiet music and an activity accessible to all) is used in all classrooms first thing in the morning to ensure that the environment is welcoming and allows children the opportunity to mentally prepare for learning. Some children are invited to an earlier soft start in a small group. They are greeted by the adult leading the group.
• Nurture groups are delivered to children who are struggling emotionally and socially.
• KS1 children have access to a worry monster in their classroom where worries can be written on paper and placed in the monsters mouth for him to eat away. Teachers monitor the worries written and intervene if appropriate.
• KS2 children have 'worries away' diaries. These are personal and only the child decides if they wish to share with an adult. Children can write in these at any time they need to.
• We have a Pastoral Care Worker who supports children via 1:1 Nurture sessions. Additional referrals to other agencies are completed as necessary
• Regular Christian Meditation time is used each week in every class for children to reflect.
• Mindfulness sessions are used to help children calm

• We recognise that pupils with SEND may well have an Emotional and Social Development needs that will require additional support in school. These children are continually monitored by staff.
• We have a robust Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy in place; we follow National & Local Authority Guidelines.
• We have appropriate  Behaviour and Anti Bullying Policies
• The Head and all staff continually monitor the Emotional Health and well-being of all our pupils; this may be for example, via pupil questionnaire

What are the arrangements made by the governing body for dealing with complaints from parents/carers of children in relation to the provision made at St Joseph's?

Most issues can be resolved by speaking with the class teacher, Head teacher or SENDCo. If however the issue is not resolved the process for all complaints is made available in the Complaints Policy which is regularly updated. The Complaints Policy is also available on the school website.

Which outside agencies support the needs of SEND children at St Joseph's and their families?

Educational Psychologist, School Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Behaviour Support Team, Early Help Team, Vennture, Homestart and Pastoral Care Worker.

What are the school’s arrangements for supporting children in transferring between phases of education?

All transitions are well planned for as children transfer from pre-school settings or home, as they move from Class 1 to Class 2 and onto KS2. Parents/carers always have the opportunity to meet the new teacher and class staff. Any outside agencies working with a child are informed of the transition and advice from them is used as necessary to help ensure a smooth transition.

The school will work with the Local Authority and family when a child is starting our school with an Education Health Care Plan to ensure all aspects and requirements are put into place.

A child’s SEND records are transferred to the new school to ensure the new school is aware of needs and targets.  The SENDCo of our school will liaise with the SENDCo of the new school to ensure there is  full understanding of the child’s needs.

Please take some time to read the documents below. The information Pack gives you a true feel for what St Joseph's offers children with SEND.